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Midget with headlight troubles

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RickB

RickB

Yoda
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This morning Frank did something new (to me).
I've been out for over a week and he's been feeling neglected, so when I started him up this morning and turned on the headlights they were on Bright and I flicked the switch to dim and they were still bright and I flicked it back & forth and could get them to dim but they always went back to bright.
I turned off the headlights... <span style="font-weight: bold">and they were still on bright!</span>
After fiddling around with the dimmer switch a lot I could get it all operating correctly again.
What's recommended here?
A shot or two of contact cleaner or should I order a new dimmer switch (and how hard is that to replace?)
 
Sounds like you had a contact go over center in the switch. I doubt if the contact cleaner will help much, more likely a new switch will be in order. Changing the switch isn't too difficult if you loosen the bolts than hold the steering column to the underside of the cowl and let it drop a bit so you can get the shroud off.
 
Thanks Bill,

Next I'll be looking for a good replacement.
Are the ones from the usual sources any good - or should I be looking for a NOS part?
 
I put one on my '63 from on old Comet , it works fine other then the bright indicator light is always on, probably not hooked up right.

PS
Here's my old one torn down. Tried to resurrect it but it was beyond hope.
 
Thanks - it's nice to see the switch apart like that before I dig into mine.
I don't know if mine is the same since I've got a 78. I guess I'll find out.
 
That part you press, the "cap" is riveted on, sorta, so once off, it's off. I didn't care as I was planning on replacing it anyway, just wanted to see how it worked, or didn't. It was full of rust and goo and didn't want to "rotate" after cleaning anyway. You can bypass it as I did by simply putting a blade style fuse between the wires (two at a time) just to see if that's where the problem lies. No idea if they're different by '78 or not, sorta hope they upgraded in that 15 year span.
 
The headlight switch is sort of like the heater switch, at least on a '68. There are some pics of a headlight switch/heater switch on Gerard's Web Site from when I cleaned up mine. Might help you out.
 
Outstanding, always wondered what was in those.
 
After a bit more tinkering I've come to the conclusion this particular problem in my car is with the dimmer switch and it is whatever 'springs' the stalk to keep it in the middle. It wants to fall back to the "momentary flash your brights" position instead of stay right in the middle.

As we know, the lights are hot all the time whether or not the car is running & key in or out. The stalk needs to sit right in the middle in the forward / backward plane and mine tends to be kind of loose in the backward direction.

Is there a simple way to tighten up this action?
 
The new switches pop up every now and then on eBay. I had one that was faulty in the right blinker position. They are pretty shoddy inside. Mostly plastic and not much to tinker with. Give it a try but I'm thinking you will eventually have to get a new one. The column shrouds are more of a pain than anything else. I seem to remember a copper keeper shaped like a "C" with a couple of small springs under it. I think that is what keeps it in the center position. You might be able to spring it a bit to make it stronger. It's been a couple of years since I took mine apart though.
JC
 
As the week has progressed it's gotten progressively better.

Today it was perfect.

I think Frank was lonesome, we all were out on vacation and he didn't even get someone in the seats for over a week. Now that I'm driving him every day again he's feeling better.
 
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